Information Session cum Talk on Knowledge Transfer Impact Funds 2025-26 and Impact Recognition Award 2025

You are cordially invited to join the Information Session cum Talk on Knowledge Transfer Impact Funds 2025-26 and Impact Recognition Award 2025, which will be held on 24 September 2025. The session will introduce two newly launched funding schemes as well as the Impact Recognition Award, and will feature a special talk on integrating Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) into evidence-based projects and ventures.

As part of a strategic restructuring of CUHK’s internal funding portfolio, the Knowledge Transfer Project Fund (KPF) and Sustainable Knowledge Transfer Project Fund (S-KPF) have now concluded and will be succeeded by new initiatives — the Knowledge Transfer Impact Project Fund (KT-IPF) and Knowledge Transfer Venture Impact Fund (KT-VIF).The two new initiatives are established to strengthen CUHK’s support for knowledge transfer and social innovation. They address different stages of the journey from academic knowledge to social impact. To assist in identifying the most suitable funding scheme for your project, you are welcome to utilise our self check-up form for guidance.

The KT-IPF supports research-based projects that are at the late-prototype stage and show clear potential for social innovation. With up to HK$200,000 available for a one-year project, the fund enables CUHK academics to refine, pilot, and apply their research outputs to address pressing social and community needs.

For projects that are ready to scale further, the KT-VIF provides up to HK$300,000 over two years to support CUHK academics in building research-informed ventures. The fund is designed to encourage the development of sustainable, scalable enterprises that tackle social challenges with evidence-based solutions.

Alongside these funds, the Impact Recognition Award (IRA) is introduced to acknowledge and showcase outstanding impact-driven projects led by CUHK academics. A judging panel formed by leading local funders and social innovation experts will select the top three finalists, who will share a total award of HK$200,000. Beyond the monetary prize, finalists will join a structured programme of workshops and coaching to sharpen their pitching skills, culminating in a live pitching session at the IRA Ceremony. This award not only celebrates impact created by CUHK academics but also equips them with tools to engage potential funders and stakeholders more effectively.

This year, both the funding schemes and the IRA incorporate concepts of Impact Measurement and Management (IMM). To support applicants in integrating IMM into their proposals, we are honoured to invite Ms Natalie Chan and Mr James Chan, Co-founders of PIE Strategy Limited and accredited trainers of the UNDP SDG Impact Standards as the guest speakers for the special talk. They will share practical insights on how IMM can be applied to design evidence-based projects and ventures, assisting applicants in strengthening their case for impact and sustainability.

Event Details
Date: 24 September 2025 (Tuesday)
Time: 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Venue: UGA, InnoPort, CUHK
Mode: Hybrid
Registration: https://cloud.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk/webform/view.php?id=13716461

*Successful registrants will receive an email notification on or before 23 September to confirm their registration.

Speakers
Ms Natalie Chan
Managing Director, PIE Strategy Limited

A sustainability strategist, Natalie has two decades of hands-on experience turning ESG intent into measurable impact across Asia-Pacific. After establishing the corporate sustainability functions at Swire Pacific and The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, she founded PIE Strategy—an award-winning B Corporation®—to help organisations embed environmental, social and governance priorities into strategy, operations and product design, fueling resilience and sustainable growth. Natalie is a UNDP-validated international expert in Impact Measurement & Management (IMM) and an accredited SDG Impact Standards trainer. She sits on boards and policy committees that shape the region’s sustainability agenda. Natalie holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD–Tsinghua and a master’s in Corporate Environmental Governance from the University of Hong Kong.

Mr James Chan
Co-founder and Senior Consultant, Sustainable Transformation, PIE Strategy Limited

With more than a decade steering sustainability and ESG agendas across Asia-Pacific, James converts complex sustainability challenges into board-room action, charting clear pathways for growth and resilience. A co-founder of PIE Strategy—an award-winning B Corporation®—he helps Fortune 500 companies, investors and public bodies weave ESG and social-innovation thinking into core strategy, governance and product portfolios. A UNDP-accredited SDG Impact Standards trainer and certified Sustainability & Climate Risk (SCR®) professional, his work spans double materiality, ESG strategy and goal-setting, and impact measurement and the design of impact-management systems that turn data into better decisions. James holds a BA in Politics and Public Administration from the University of Hong Kong.

We warmly encourage you to join this information session to explore how these new opportunities can help bring your research into action, scale its social impact, and gain recognition for your contributions to the SDGs.